Rein-support



NlTED STATES.

REIN-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,987, dated October 15, 1895.

7 Application filed March 18, 1895.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

1 3e it known that I, WILLIAM A. BRUCE, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Rutherford, in the county of Bergen, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rein-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to prevent a horses tail from catching and holding the reins when he swings his tail about.

The invention consists in a bridge or yoke of considerable length placed upon the harness at the junction of the crupper with the straps that support the breeching, so that the reins can lie in said bridge or yoke and thus support them upon the horses back near the base of the tail, whereby when he swings his tail about the bridge or yoke will prevent the reins from being drawn under the tail. This bridge or yoke may be made readily detachable from the harness by clips, to which it is preferably pivoted, so that the device will fit properly upon the horse and allow for his movements in traveling.

The invention further consists in the novel details of improvement and the combinations of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, which illustrate what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic rear view of a horse, showing my improved rein-support on the harness. Fig. 2 is an enlarged face view of the holder and its holding-clips. Fig. 3 is plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is an end view of the holder, showing the clip grasping part of the harness. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the clip. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the bridge or yoke detached from the clips. Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the bridge or clip carried by permanent supports on the harness; and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively side and edge views of said supports.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the letter A indicates a crupper of a harness, and B B are the hip-straps that extend therefrom along a horses flanks to the breeching. (Not shown.)

D is a bridge or yoke, which is quite long $erial No. 542,148. (No model.)

and has upturned hooks or ends D which curve inwardly over the cross bar of the bridge or yoke. The reins are adapted to lie in or on said bridge or yoke, and the curved ends D retain it thereon. The bridge or yoke D is adapted to be attached to the strap B, as shown,whereby it will be held upon the horses back close to the crupper A.

E are clips or supports to which the bridge or yoke D is to be attached, which clips or supports are adapted to be attached to the straps B B.

The bridge or yoke is adapted to be pivotally connected with the clips or supports E, as at (1, so that said clips can readily conform to the shape of the horse, while the bridge remains horizontal. The bridge D is shown provided with lugs (1 which enter between lugs e e on the clips or supports E, the pivots d connecting said parts. The bridge D may have two or more apertu red lugs 01 near each end to provide for adjusting the clips E along.

said bridge to providefor horses of different sizes.

The clips E are shown composed of bottom plates E and top bars E, which are pivotally connected together by pivots e passing through lugs e e on the bottom plate and top bar, respectively. A spring F, located between plate E and bar E tends to press the opposite ends of said parts together to grip a strap B. (See Fig. 4.) The parts E and E when they grip the strap may be provided with teeth f to firmly hold the strap and prevent slipping. The bottom plate E of the clip is of considerable size, preferably circular, as shown, to present an extended and smooth surface to bear on the animals back.

The rein'support is adjusted on the harness, so that the bridge'D extends across the animals back, as in Figs. 1 and 7, and the clips E E grasp the straps B B, as shown, the plates E E resting on the blck. The reins rest in the bridge or yoke, which thus holds them highon the back and prevents them from falling down by the side of the animals flanks. When he swings his tail about, it will not catch the reins and drag them under the tail, as the bridge holds them above the horses back. The reins at all times lie along the horses back, even when they are allowed by the driver to slacken.

In'Figs. 7, 8, and 9 the supports E consist ISO of plates or bars E having lugs e to receive the lugs D on the bridge or yoke D, said supports being permanently attached to the straps B, as by rivets. (Not shown.) As the bridge or yoke D is pivoted to the harness, the animal may have free movement without causing the rein-support to drag on the harmess.

The device is preferablymade of light cast metal, is simple in construction, and readily applied to and detached from the harness.

I do not limit my invention to the precise details of construction shown, as they may be varied Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention--- 1. A rein support, consisting of a bridge or yoke, and clips consisting of bottom plates E nected with said clips, substantially as herein specified.

2. A rein support, consisting of a bridge having tip-turned ends and lugs d and springacting clips having lugs e, e, pivotally connected with said lugs d said bridge being pivotally connected with said clips, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. BRUCE.

Vitnesses:

T. F. BOURKE, M. F. BOYLE. 

